WVNET Video Conferencing Services

Video Conference Services

 

 

Do you need to connect your headquarters location with two or more other locations in a video conference? WVNET has the ability to let you make multiple video conference connections. This service, called bridging, makes use of one or more of the Multipoint Control Units (MCUs) at WVNET. It can also translate between different protocols (e.g., H.320, H.321, and H.323), as well as different transmission rates (up to 768 kbps).

To schedule a video conference, select  the How to Schedule tab. Actual pricing depend upon the total number of sites to be connected and the protocols being used.

Consulting is part of this service. We will advise you of the various conference options, reserve the appropriate MCU capacity, perform pre-conference testing with designated technical contacts at each of the sites, and provide on-call technical support during the conference.

Protocol Conversion and Rate Adaptation

Even if a video conference involves only two sites, the equipment at the sites may use different protocols or transmission speeds. In this case, the WVNET MCU can provide interoperability between two otherwise incompatible systems. The pricing for mediation of point-to-point conferences is the same as for multipoint conferencing, but only two MCU ports are used.

Participant Coordination Services

The administrative effort to coordinate with potential video-conference participants can be substantial in terms of manpower and time. WVNET offers this service separately, whether or not other WVNET facilities or services are requested. This service includes:

• contacting each of the desired participants at e-mail addresses provided by the organizer,
• collecting the responses,
• following up with non-respondents,
• and providing a daily update to the organizer with information about which participants have confirmed, which have declined, and which have not yet responded.

The cost for this service is $10 per participant, excluding the organizer.

How to Schedule

 

 

• Before scheduling a video conference, gather the following information:
  The proposed date of the conference.
  The desired starting time of the conference.
  The expected duration of the conference.
  The sites/locations to be included in the conference.
  The billing contact name and billing address.
  A technical contact for each site (for coordination of any necessary pre-conference testing and for technical assistance for any problems that may occur at the site during the conference).


• Call This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at WVNET: (304) 293-5192 ext. 246. (Bob's backup is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at extension 273.) If you are conferencing with sites that have used the WVNET conference bridge previously, WVNET requests at least 24 hours advance notice. If you are conferencing with sites that have not used the WVNET bridge previously, or if you're not sure if all of the sites have previously used the WVNET bridge, at least 48 hours is strongly recommended. These are minimum recommended times, and WVNET asks that you schedule as far in advance as practical.


• If you need to set up a conference on shorter notice, every effort will be made to accommodate your request, but experience has shown that the greater the preparation and testing, the more satisfactory the conference experience is.


• Instruct participants at all of the sites to ensure that their video equipment is powered on at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the conference.


• Normally, the WVNET bridge will connect to each site. There are some sites that cannot accept a connection from the bridge, and arrangements will have been made in these cases for the technical contacts at those sites to initiate their connections with the WVNET bridge. For ISDN connections, WVNET recommends having the remote sites initiate the ISDN calls (numbers and procedures for connection will be provided to the sites’ technical contacts prior to the scheduled conference). In any case, the process will be coordinated with the remote sites' technical contacts, and no action should be required by the participants themselves to create the connection.


• If there is any problem establishing the conference or during the conference, contact the WVNET Help Desk at (304) 293-5192, option #1.


• At the end of the conference, each site should disconnect to ensure that billing stops on time.

MCU Pricing List

Our resources are:

 

H323 (IP)
              12 ports @ 384 kbps or less

                6 ports @ 512 kbps or greater

H.321 (ATM)

16 @ 384 kbps or less

H.320 (ISDN)

24 ports @ 64 kbps each (may be combined for higher speeds)

Per-Port Rates

$0.25 per port per minute

For H.321 (ATM) or H.323 (IP), one port is required for each video unit conferenced.

For H.320 (ISDN), one port is used for each 64 kbps of bandwidth.

Example: a one-hour conference of one H.323 unit, one H.321 unit, and one H.320 unit, with all units operating at 384 kbps.

H.323 unit = 1 port @ $0.25/minute for 60 minutes = $15
H.321 unit = 1 port @ $0.25/minute for 60 minutes = $15
H.320 unit = 6 ports (64 kbps each) @ $0.25/minute for 60 minutes = $90

TOTAL = $120

H.320 (ISDN) Out-Dial Rates

If a remote site is called by the MCU, an additional toll charge of $0.25 per minute per 64 kbps port will be added.

Example: a remote site is connected at 384 kbps using H.320 (ISDN) by a call from the MCU to the remote site. This requires six 64 kbps connections to be aggregated for the 384 kbps conference rate. The additional toll charges will be 6 x $0.25 = $1.50 per minute.

No toll charge is assessed if the remote site calls the MCU.

Cancellation

There is a $50.00 fee if a conference is not held and is not cancelled before the scheduled start time.